The Wilmingtonian., 1887-01-15
In A Trance.

MY oiOohoi-iu-lhn sdy
''Shut those windows, please; there's
draught enough to kill dozen well people
And Kitty, have one of the servants bring
tina little air-tight stove down from the
trunk-room, and then see that there is gen.
tie fire kept up here at least until midday to-
morrow. will be back 10 few moments.
had been trying to open my lips to say
something, to ask why was lying in my
bed at thus hour OF the day, or to request
my sister Kitty to put another blanket on
the bed; but could not utter word. While
was wondering what allied me and why
felt 30 queer, one of the servants, who had
entered with the little stove, said to her
companion:
Sure an the masther's that quarc ! Niv-
er before did | hear of any one wantin' to
kape dead man warrum; begorra, some o.
thin gets warrum enough where they've
gone, but not the likes o. Masther Fred"
Why has Norah such sound of tears in
her voice9
"An' why, wonder, didn't some O. thin
miserable spalpeeus round in the back street
git runned over and kilt Instead o. him."
Norah continued, "it will about kill his
sister,"
A cold chill came over me; who were they
talking about A score of weird tales which
had read came rushing through my mind
how people had been buried alive; how
dear ones had permitted husband, brother,
father, even mother or child, to be neglected
az past hope; and how, after infinite suffer.
ing, the supposed corpse had struggled free
from the coffin and windiug-sheec aud come
home again; aud thought, too, of the many
who had never been able to free themselves
and would have shuddered if could have
moved muscle or even an eyelash; but |
was as immovable as any corpse.
In what seemed a century l again heard
my sisters voice. Considering that her ou-
ly brother was supposed to be dead before
her very eyes, thoughti she seemed very
bithe.
"Oh, Otto,' she said to her husband
"theu you do not think Fred is really deadP'
mo more dead than am, my dear; he
has evidently received severe blow upon
his head which rendered him senseless and
has thrown him into sort of trance or cata-
leptic state. have just been TO see DR..
Burke, and he says it is very probable. Auy-
way, Kitty, insist that the room he kept
warm, quiet and comfortable; If alive, he is
weak, aud this place, when came into it,
was cold enough to have frozen any invalid
and then, on the other hand, If he is not alive
it will do no harm to have the temperature a
little high, for any sign of decay will settle
his condition beyond doubt--and until l
am quite positive he is dead will give him
the benefit of the doubt.'
had always liked and respected my grave
brother-ln-law; now loved him. How |
blessed him for his words That he would
stick to them had no doubt, for he was a
mule for obstinacy--no, no, never again
would cali him. .obstinat,, but firm
certainly was weak, for I either dozed
now or had faint turn, for the next thing
knew the room was warm, soft scarlet
shawl was spread over my feet as / could
sec through my half-closed eyes, the curtains
were drawn down, and the house was delight
fully still My sister seemed Ito have been
perSuading her husband into grudging con-
sent to something, for he was saying:
"Well, have your own way, Kitty; can't
pretend to fathom the minds OF you women,
and You may be right; do not like the girl
myself, and think our Fred is thrown away
on her. But then, YOU see, there never was
but one woman in the woild to me-"
"You are the best man in the universe,
0ttoi | do hope you are. light, and that
dear dear Fed can hear what we say" an.
swered my sister, kissing me tendelly
'If he tan," answered Otto, layirg his
firm, cool hand on my forehead, she knows
that he IL to be carei for, and that 10 han
shall come to him if Otto Kramer eau defend
hin"
Alas my tear-ducls too were 1paralS zed,
and the tears which felt rise in them could
60 no further.
Kitty now spread Large white quilt over
me, letting it hang straight and smooth, a. d
then she and Otto left tue room. had faitt
in them aud again allowed myself to elaps,
into a state Of uDconSciousness, from which
was aroused by voice which l knew IGN
well-the voice of Feroline Palmer, my be
trothed; she was saying, calmly
81 will he glad, Mrs. Kramer, if you vii
leave quite alone wth-with FEED for
few moments; give me just five minutes
know you have never liked me, but snrel,
you will not refnsc the last request | will
ever make of you"
What could she mean ? Could Kitty hav
been SO heartless as not to tell her that Ott
knew that was still alive? Kitty aud sh
weIe no good friends, for my sister showe
plainly that she did not think Lima Cwhor
she always spoke Of by her full name Ferc
line) half good enough for me; but was
different opinion. In my eyes Lima wa
not cold, bur only full of pure madeny ret
oence; that she as at all mercenary was, t
me- disproved by the fact that Harold Cal
ter, the matrim nnial priza of our town, ha
not been able to win her from me, thoug
everybody conld see that he was head-oye
heels in love with her.
Every well" answered my sister, in til
toue of woman convinced against her vii
"a will leave you now,. and return in fi'
minutes"
As Kitty shut the door behind her, felt
glow of pleasurable anticipation come owe
me. I said to myself that surely the war